Relaxed / Casual wear for Young-ish Hourglass Figures

Hello folks!
I love this forum and site and have learned so much in the few hours since I found it.
Here is a problem I am wondering about:

I am a busty hourglass figure type-slightly short-waisted, long rise; very average height 5'4", 130 pounds in my early thirties. Ever since my teens I have been aware of the fact that va voom outfits suit me very well-think mad men wriggle dresses, pencil skirts, tight fitted tops, etc. I love how they look on me and I used to think when I was younger that I need to grow into that style as they always appear to me to be more for the mature woman.

Now that I am in my 30s I would love to wear them more but it's not very practical and I will be always looking so dressed up if that was the only silhouette I wore. I am drawn to many of the more youthful styles-drapey blousey tops, skinny jeans (who isn't?), short mini skirts with long legs; tee shirts and trousers/jeans. I work from home so comfy casual but smart is my priority for the wardrobe as I don't want to be sitting around at home in a wriggle skirt and fitted top but I don't want to always feel like a dowd either for occasions when I do leave the house.

My legs aren't that long, they are okay in short skirts but since they are not skinny skinny I don't flaunt them all the time, and besides I'm getting older!

Has anyone had any success on working out a classic but edgy and fashionably youthful style that is relaxed and looks fabulous with curvy, hourglass figures? So far I discovered that mod A-line dresses and sheaths in comfy woven fabrics with the right length is one way.. What other silhouettes? Links to pictures will be great!

Most street fashion blogs and magazines feature the casual styles on slim, rectangular figures while dressy/work outifts are on curvier frames. It's the former category I'm interested in!

Looking forward to seeing what y'all think

12 years ago

Body Type

13 replies

Latest reply was from Mo

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Heyya At!

I recently found out I'm also an hourglass, but I'm not very curvy; and I am a bit younger than you, but have a more mature professional wardrobe ... and I agree, A-lines are definitely my friend!

I don't really dress casually, so I can't help you too much out there.

Good luck!

12 years ago

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I'm not on the young-ish side, but I am an hourglass, also, and like lyn says, A-lines work for me, too. In fact, I just posted one. I'm drawn to more youthful, fresh looks and, if you work from home, you want to be comfortable. Skinny jeans and jeggings have nice stretch in them and you can find some really cute drapey tops, I'm sure in whatever color pleases you. When going out on the town, the "Mad Men" look can't be beat! Love it.

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Well, I'm an hourglass and definitely dress casually, but I don't have a large bust. You're more then welcome to browse old outfit posts of mine. I wear straight skirts quite a bit, but not 'wriggle' lol. More like cargo, I guess. Also, shorts right above the knee were a popular choice for me all summer. Good luck in dialing in your put together casual look! It's something I've been honing in on, too, since I've been home off work this year.

Hmm, a few pics since you asked: mind you it is STILL 80 degrees where I am, so climate has tons to do with my choices this year.

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12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am about your height and I'm a slim hourglass/ rectangle (as per Angie) who also has a long rise (but unlike you, I have a small bust. As in VERY small...where did it go?) Like Vicki, I'm a lot older than you, but I work from home (most of the time) and parent a young daughter, so I need mom on the go looks mostly.

I am only beginning my style journey, but so far for casual at home and errands wear, I find that jeans (including skinnies) are great. A lines are also good, as are slimmer skirts with a bit of give to them (think substantial knit fabrics). I am also in love with a sleeveless jersey sheath dress I have that follows but doesn't clutch my curves; I layer it over Ts for cooler weather. For a few visuals:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-new-skirt

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....boring-but

Good luck exploring your own style and look forward to seeing your pics!

12 years ago

Active Member

Mo, Thanks for sharing!! I LOVE the short skirt and leopard print on you, you have great slim legs! I too have found knee length shorts to be very flattering for our body types, I have a pair and its also a summer staple

Vicki, I was just admiring your Chanel inspired outfit earlier today! It is FABULOUS on you!!! Love the cropped jacket look, dark slim top and pants, everything. It's not a look I sport but you got me thinking now that I need to hunt for a nice tailored short jacket!

12 years ago

Active Member

Suz, thanks for sharing! I was also admiring your first WIW link earlier, with the maroon top and scarf-love it! I like your look, very classy and timeless but with a little edge. You and Vicki (and Angie) are making me jealous with your short boy crop. It's a look i can never wear, alas I have a round face-my husband calls me his full moon. It's a combo of round/square so long hair has always flattered me most, but that's an entirely different story, I digress

I love your jersey sheath, I have been hunting for something like that in different colors. Where did you buy it if you don't mind sharing?

12 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I'm just a bit younger than you, but I'm an hourglass of about the same height and weight. I can't post pics right now, but I'll do so when I get home - or if you want to look sooner, I have lots of outfit posts in the archive.

In general, my go-to casual strategies are:

- Casual jackets that hug the shoulders and don't obscure the waist
- jeans that are slim to at least the knee break
- half-tucked shirts to lengthen the leg line, while still giving off a relaxed look
- heeled boots

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thank you for the lovely compliments!

My sheath dress came from a Canadian designer called Comrags. It was the gift of a generous friend who had bought it an never worn it! When she gave it to me, I weighed 35 pounds more than I do now, and I thought I would NEVER fit it. I figured I would donate as soon as I could (she didn't want it back). But then I decided to get fit, I lost a pile of weight, and finally it fit me. I also had it shortened as it was almost a maxi when I got it!

http://www.comrags.com/our-store/basics/

I also have the Wagner skirt. It is THE best skirt I have ever owned. Elastic waist, flippy hem; it is beautifully dress up and down-able. I am wearing it in the photo with the greyish-lavenderish turtleneck.

12 years ago

Anonymous

I'm a straight hourglass with a youngish and very casual wardrobe. I wear a lot of skirts, both a line and pencil. I think you can get away with more dressy shapes, like pencil skirts in casual environments when they're made of casual fabrics.

I have 3 corduroy pencil skirts that I wear all the time Comfortable, casual, and flattering! Adding denim shirts, jackets, and skirts helps too.

12 years ago

anne

Veteran

I don't call myself an hourglass anymore, but what about an outfit like the one in this post http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....pping-trip
No 6.

I realise that is a summer look and you are probably looking for something warmer, but change the top to a long sleeve one or a sweater, the clams to skinnies - or maybe bootcuts and add boots and you might be set.

12 years ago

Charmian

Veteran

Hi at, welcome to the forum!

Your measurements / body type are exactly mine, except I'm an IT / hourglass, not a "pure" hourglass. And whereas I am SOOOO not stylish, I thought maybe we could commiserate a bit since we both have very casual wardrobes!

When I decided to "up" my style game a bit more, I decided to keep my style mostly the same but find better quality and fit. Nowadays, I do experiment a bit with my style but with the confidence that I can drop back to a "comfortable" style zone. For example, yesterday I tried to channel a 70s look with a turtleneck + wide-legged pants + pendant, but today I'm back to my classic look: a great tee + straight-legged jeans + converses.

I found InsideOut Style to be a good place to start with some simple rules/shapes http://www.insideoutstyleblog......pes-x.html. As you progress, you can start bending them a bit too :).

The ladies here have some great ideas for highlighting your waist, but specifically to your point about a short waist / long rise, the only help I found in balancing my proportions was longer tops. That's gonna be long tees, fitted tunics, open cardigans with a nice drape (so that folks can see the negative space between the cardigan and your waist), and letting a long camisole peek out from under my tee (for the cami, I use a contrasting color to balance out my inverted triangle proportions; a traditional hourglass might want to go tonal).

Here's an example outfit; unfortunately, the pose TOTALLY doesn't do it justice. Note the longer tee (to balance the long rise / short waist), straight leg trousers (not skinnies), and knot detail under my bust (to draw attention to my waist).

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12 years ago

Active Member

Thanks gals for all the suggestions and photos! It really helps to be able to see what everyone else is doing to make things more stylish Charmian, I totally do what you do too, layer my tops so they are longer, didn't realize why, so now I try to buy longer tops! And thanks so much for the X vs 8 link! That really nailed it, I am an X!!!!!

Everyone, I went shopping yesterday, Loehmann's (I broke my no-new-clothes only thrifted-ones rule) had a 25 + 15% off sale and I was tired of not finding any basics anywhere during thrifting/vintage-shopping.

Here's what I got, I did a survey of what I wore most and looked good, and being aware of the general bodyshape tips and tried to re-create the look:

1. Lovely grey, wide v neck cashmere sweater, soft and drapey and oversized. I figured out my shoulders and neck is one my fav features so showing it off more now
2. 2 silk tanks that drape beautifully
3. Silk jersey A-line grey slip for layering
4. Lace-trimmed animal print A-line lingerie slip for layering
5. V-neck micromodal soft drapey navy blouse
6. RED jeans, skinny but not too tapered

I love all my purchases, the fabrics and drape are gorgeous and worth spending on. I am still looking for A-Line mod style dresses, it must be in fashion because Loehmann's had none! Does anyone know a good source? Also where does one get nice wrap dresses? And haven't bought any skirts yet coz I was focusing on basics (for me)...

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like a good haul. Believe it or not, you can find good wrap dresses at Kmart for $20 from their Attention line. They run big, though. I had to donate 2 I had because the forum deemed them too large a fit at even the XS!
I also have a wrap dress from Express that's been a hit here. Oh, and a Victoria's Secret/ Moda wrap as well.

12 years ago

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